Funding delays plague port projects
Delays in doling out $14 million in federal funds could force the postponement of improvements at the state's three coastal cargo ports.
In February, the ports of Portland, Eastport and Searsport were awarded the grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery program for facility improvements to diversify their customer bases. However, the state couldn't move forward with construction work until it received the draft agreement from the DOT, which arrived Sept. 8, according to the Bangor Daily News. Now, state officials must request a waiver of the agreement's "Buy American" clause, since a piece of equipment needed for the Searsport upgrades is not manufactured domestically. John Henshaw of the Maine Port Authority told the paper the delays could push back work until next spring. He and members of Maine's congressional delegation have asked federal officials to expedite the process.
The International Marine Terminal in Portland received $5 million for capacity, infrastructure and handling improvements, while the Searsport port received $7 million for new equipment and the Eastport port received $2 million for a warehouse, conveyor system and storage pad, according to the paper.
Go to the article from the Bangor Daily News >>
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